Internal-combustion engine



Oct. 27, 1925. 1,559,216

L. M. WOOLSON INTERNAL COMBU STI 0N ENGINE Original Filed Sept. 1, 1920jn ucnfoz Lionel 7771110025017 Patented Oct. 27, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LIONEL M. WOOLSON, 0F DETROIT, MIG HIGAN, ASSIGNOR -TO PACKARD MOTOR CARCOMPANY, 015 DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Original application filed September 1, 1920, Serial No. 407,443,Divided and this application filed February 6, 1925. Serial No. 7,266.

tion engines, particularly to the fuel feed-- ing mechanism thereof, andis a division of application Serial No. 407,443, filed September 1,1920.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide means for utilizingthe heavier grades of fuel in an internal combustion engine, while atthe same time facilitating the starting of such engines.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide means for supplying aninternal combustion engine with both a light and a heavy fuel from asingle source of supply.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for utilizingsome ofthe heat of a combustion heater to distill a fractional part of theheavier fuel for use in starting,

as well asfor operating the combustion,

heateriii connection with the'engine.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the followingdescription taken in connection with the drawing which forms a part ofthis specification, and in which the 4 single figure is a side elevationof an internal combustion engine embodying the invention, parts beingbroken away for better illustration, and equipped with a combustionheater and still. a

With the heavy fuels, such as kerosene, that it is now desired to use ininternal combustion engines, difficulties in starting are encounteredand where a combustion heater is used on the engine it is difficult tomake it operate satisfactorily on these heavier grades of fuel. Toobviate the necessity of having two definite sources of fuel supply, onea heavy fuel for running the engine after it is warmed up, and the othera lighter'fuel for starting and for feeding the combustion heater, thisinvention contemplates a single source of fuel supply and the use of astill in connection with the engine for separating some of the lighterfractions from the heav fuel and feeding these lighterdistilledffactions to .17. The tank 17 may the engine carburetor forstarting, and to the combustion heater continuously.

. Referring to the drawing, which is illustrative of the invention, 10represents an internal combustion engine having an intake A source offuel supply is shown in the form of a tank 17 which may be mounted highenou h to permit the withdrawal of fuel there%rom by gravity, or it maybe mounted in a lower position, as shown, and

have connected to it, as by a pipe 18, a small pump 19 which is operatedby the engine and adapted to supply pessure to the tank connected-to oneof the float chambers, as 15, by a pipe 20 through a stillwhich will behereinafter described.

A combustion heater 22 is adapted to-heat the mixture passing from, thecarburetor 12 to the engine through the intake conduit 11. This heater,of itself, is of well known form and comprises a combustion chamber 23,having an outlet 24 into the intake conduit, a spark plug 25 forigniting the mixture in the chamber,'and a pipe 26 for supplying mixtureto the chamber 23 as from a small carburetor 27 which is shown connectedto the float chamber 14 of the carburetor 12. A small glass window 28permits theoperation of the combustion heater to be observed and theadmission of additional air thereto may be controlled by a small valve29 for the purpose of obtaining the best mixture. I

It will be understood that the combustion heater operates by the suctionof the enginesince the cinduit 24 enters the intake conduit above thethrottle valve. The engine suction draws a combustible mixture from thecarburetor 27 through the ipe 26 and into the chamber 23 where it is redby the spark plu 25. The hot burnt mixture passes throng the opening 24into the intake conduit and thereby heats the mixture passing to theengine.

In the form of'the invention shown, a still 30 is mounted on thecombustion chamber 23. The still is inthe form of an enclosed chambersurrounding the combustion chamber and is connected to the fuel supply1'? by the pipe 20 hereinabove described. A

pipe 32 also connects the lower part of the still with the float chamber15.

By the pressure in the tank 17, supplied by the pump 19, above referredto, the heavy fuel is fed to the still 30, and a valve 33 therein,controlled by a float 34, determines the levelto which the liquid ispermitted to rise in the still. The heat for the still is supplied bythe combustion chamber 23 .and fins 35 may be provided to assistradiation at this point.

A condenser form of a tank 36 which may be supplied with radiation fins37, and this tank, in addition to performing the function of acondenser, is also in the nature of an auxiliary supply tank for thelighter fractions of fuel that are received by it from the still 30. Apipe 38 connects the upper part of the still 30 with the tank 36 so thatthe vapors produced by thestill will pass to the condenser where theywill be condensed and stored.

The condenser 36 is connected to the float chamber 14 of the carburetor12 as by a pipe 39, and thus the condenser or supply tank 36 will supplythe carburetor 12 with fuel when the switch Valve 16 connects the float.14 to the carburetor, and regardless of the position of the switchvalve 16, the condenser .36 will supply the carburetor 27 with fuel forthe combustion heater 22. Thus it is possible to start the engine on thelighter fuel contained in the condenser Shand so operate it until theengine is warm enough to run on kerosene'or other heavier fuel. valve 16has been so turned that the engine will run on the heavier fuel suppliedfrom the float chamber 15, the combustion heater 22 will operate on thelighter fuel supplied to the float chamber 14 by the condenser 36. Ofcourse the still 30 will continue to o verate and will replenish thesupply of luel in the condenser 36 as fast as, or faster than it iswithdrawn therefrom by the combustion heater, so that there will alwaysbe suflicient lighter fuel in the condenser 36'to start the engine afterit has been stopped for a period of time.

In the form of the invention illustrated, it is probable that aconsiderable amount of mixture would be fed to the combustion for thestill is shown in the But even after the switch assassin heater due tothe fact that much of its heat would be absorbed by the still, but,within reasonable, limits, any desired amount of mixture can be fed tothe combustion heater so that there will be sufficient heat both foroperating the still and for heating the mixture passing from thecarburetor 12 to the engine.

It will be understood that the forms shown herein are illustrative onlyof the invention, and various modifications there of ma be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by theclaims. i

What is claimed is 1. In an internal combustion engine, the combinationwith a combustion heater for heating the mixture passing to the engine,of a still operated by the heat 'from said combustion heater and adaptedto supply fuel for the engine.

2. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with the engineintake conduit, and a combustion heater connected thereto, of a stilloperated by the heat from said. combustion heater and adapted to supplyfuel for the engine.

3. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a combustionheater operated by engine suction, of a still operated by heat from saidcombustion heater, and a cooler connected to the still and to theengine.

4. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with the'enginecarburetor and a combustion heater having a separate carburetor, of astill operated by heat from the combustion heater, and a condenser forthe still connected to both said carburetors and to the combustionheater.

5. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with the enginecarburetor and a combustion'heater, of a still operated by heat from thecombustion heater, and a condenser forthe still adapted to supply to thecarburetor fuel for starting the engine only, and all the fuel for thecombustion heater.

6. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of an enginecylinder, a still. and a combustion heater operated by the engine andadapted to heat said still.

7. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of an engine and acombustion heater, of an'oil still operated by the engine and heated bythe combustion heater.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

LIONEL M. VVOOLSON.

